People Tree sample sale this weekend!

By Lorna

See the sale here

See you there Eco Goddesses... x

Scribbling some more!

by Naomi

You know how I said I love to scribble? Well only a couple of days after posting I discovered another eco notebook that I think is pretty rad (yes I am totally bringing that word back into fashion!).

These simply elegant notepads and address books are made by Betty & Betts, who work closely with artisans in India. All the books are acid free, biodegradable or made from post-consummer waste, and the fabric is 100% organic. We like!




Betty & Betts books

I think they would make lovely gifts, wrapped in a vintage scarf or even just with a pen and a little ribbon! Single books start at £10 and these gift sets are £22.

Scribble, scribble, scribble!

A beautiful boutique

by Naomi

I discovered a great ethical find, whilst in the gorgeous city of York (which is really worth a visit!).

I don't think I would have chanced upon it, had I not got completely lost, but I'm glad I did!

Tucked away down a cobbled side street is......

the One Responsibly Gorgeous Ethical Boutique.

It is bursting at the seams with lovely ethical treats. My heart skipped a beat when I spied a stunning cropped bustier by Deborah Lindquist, made from vintage kimono material. It was delicious.

I couldn't find similar online, but the brand does some pretty cool other bits including this sexy Racquel shredded organic cotton t-shirt at $160.

I was also hankering after the jewellery by Kate Hamilton Hunter and Just Trade, and the clothing by Patchouli Fair.

They also have a website here, if you can't get to York anytime soon!

xx

A free underwear Monday treat!

by Naomi

Fancy getting your hands on some funky new underwear? Read on!

We are launching an offer specifically for you Eco Goddesses, courtesy of the lovely peeps at PACT. The first 10 of you to enter the code ecogoddess1 will receive a free - yes FREE - pair of PACT pants! And for those of you that miss out on this, the code ecogoddess2 will get you a cheeky 25% off!

PACT donates 10 per cent of sales to environmental causes including the Sierra Club, Forest Ethics and Oceana. It uses organic cotton and manufactures responsibly. 
Well they do say that change starts at the bottom. Ahem.

Speaking of which, here is a sneak peek at some of the brand's designs for your derrière!

Get your hands some PACT undies here - just enter the code at the checkout!

Facts: PACT underwear, exclusive offer: free pair for first 10 customers and 25% off afterwards, subject to availability. PACT supports environmental causes. Offer does not include P&P.

This Weekend- Ethical Fashion Sample Sale @ Truman Brewery

By Lorna

Definitely worth a trip to the big smoke! I went to this eco sample sale a couple of years ago and it was brilliant! Got lots of lovely eco bargains (for myself and for presents), supported young brands and got to know some great new ones. See you there!!

Facts: 20th-23rd May 2011, Truman Brewery, Ethical Fashion Sample Sale, Howies, Komodo, Kuyichi, Outsider, Julia Smith, Biblico 

Wardrobe hero - Go nuts for Monkee Genes!

By Lorna

The old scool theory that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes (Pareto principle 1906) is certainly true in my wardrobe.. I definitely wear 20% of my clothes about 80% of the time!

Of course, it's lovely to have that awesome vintage dress/suit you picked up from that amazing Aladdin's cave shop, for a special party. For normal life however, we all have our Wardrobe Heros! This is the first blog I've written about about a wardrobe hero (there will be more)... I've decided that to qualify for this prestigious title, they must be ethical (obvs), must have been worn for six months, still look great and must be a key item (one of my 20%) This strict set of rules means you can truely trust my tried and tested opinion!

I can honestly say my fav pair of organic cotton black skinny Monkee Genes tick ALL boxes! They look great, still fit really well (despite frequent washing), have not faded in colour (as many high street jeans do) and I wear them to DEATH. Seriously.... I think I have a problem. They look great with tees, with jersey dresses over, with shirts, as leggings, etc etc.. they are my 'go-to' work outfit. I bought them for £50 from Topshop on Oxford Street (London) but they have their own website showcasing lots more lovely basic and fashion forward styles for guys and girls!

Skinnys have been the KEY shape for Denim for a long time now but as the 70s trend continues to grow in strength this summer, bootcut and Flares are getting more and more popular. Luckily the lovely (and ridiculously cool) people at Monkee Genes have got it all under control..

If I was to buy another pair now, I'd probably buy the organic lightweight chino jeans, chinos are big news at the mo, perfect for work and play!


Check out these fab WARDROBE HEROS here

Facts: Monkey Genes, awesome jeans, eco, organic cotton, £50, unisex

Exciting news for people & planet!

By Lorna


Sadly the exciting news is not that Ecogoddess got invites to the Royal Wedding bash today (although that would have been very exciting!) This news actually comes from our friends at the Environmental Justice Foundation...


It was announced today that Delegates at the Stockholm Convention conference of parties have made the decision to list Endosulfan (an extremely toxic chemical pesticide) under Annex A of the Convention. This is basically a global ban on all production and use within the next 5 years. This is a major victory for people and planet!!!

Endosulfan is widely used in cotton production and is the dominant pesticide in the cotton sector in 19 countries. In a single province of Benin, at least 37 people died from endosulfan poisoning in just one cotton season. 


An estimated 1 million to 5 million cases of pesticide poisoning occur every year, resulting in 20,000 reported deaths among agricultural workers (including cotton production) and at least 1 million requiring hospitalisation. 

Acute symptoms of pesticide poisoning include headaches, vomiting, tremors, lack of coordination, difficulty breathing or respiratory depression, loss of consciousness, seizures and death. Chronic effects of long-term pesticide exposure include impaired memory and concentration, disorientation, severe depression and confusion.

Massive thank you to everyone who has supported the Environmental Justice Foundation's campaign to ban this horrific pesticide. 


LONG LIVE ORGANIC COTTON!!!!!! ...... and the pesticide free workers who grow it! : )


To find out more about the Pesticides & Cotton click here
To read about the impact of Endosulfan in India click here

A double-whammy dazzling-discount Monday treat!

by Naomi

Hi guys. Firstly I must apologise for the lack of Monday treat last week - I was poorly sick and not up to thinking, let alone blogging. But fear not as I am going to make it up to you with a double-whammy Monday treat!

I found this sexy little vest at Silvr Lining, an American eco-conscious design company. It's $120, made from organic cotton, and ultimately is grunge-chic meets gothic-hotness! In fact methinx my fellow blogger (and lover of all things sexy and punk), Lorna may particularly like it.

It's perfection layered over hotpants or skinnies and for day or night.

The second treat I bring to you is a special offer!!!!

Black Dog Publishing is re-releasing the wonderful Eco Chic: The Fashion Paradox, written by Sandy Black and is offering all Eco Goddesses 40% off!

The book is a great introduction to the way that the fashion industry operates and the many complex issues surrounding the notion of eco-fashion: from the natural vs synthetic debate to the issues involved with donating unwanted textiles to third word countries.

It has some really interesting insights into companies such as THTC and Gossypium, and is packed with beautiful photography of eco-fashion creations, making it a great coffee table number and one to leave out for your friends and family to flick through!

RRP is £24.95, but for you guys it is available for only £14.97 - simply email jess@blackdogonline.com and quote 'Eco Goddess Fashion Offer' to take advantage!

Have a great week!

-x-

Facts: Silvr Lining Soft -Torn Eco Goth Tee Top made from organic cotton -  $120. Eco Chic: The Fashion Paradox by Sandy Black, on special offer to Eco Goddess Readers.

London Fashion Week! Vivienne Westwood sees RED...

By Lorna

If you ask any fashion student/designer (myself included) which designers they are most inspired by and Vivienne Westwood is sure to come pretty high up the list. An extravaganza of colour, volume and textural experimentation is evident but behind the showmanship of the collections lie Westwood's anarchistic punk roots.

Even now, with international acclaim, Westwood uses her skills and notoriety to continually highlight and protest ethical issues. For A/W 2008 a model walked with a placard protesting for the rights of Guantánamo Bay prisoners and Westwood took her bow in a blouse covered in protest badges. Also in the collection was a famous pair of orange pants (reminiscent of the fluorescent orange jumpsuits worn by detainees at the U.S. prison camp) with the slogan 'FAIR TRIAL - MY ARSE' 

For SS/11 Westwood worked with the International Trade Centre's Ethical Fashion Program of the United Nations to make oversized recycled eco tote bags. Handmade in Nairobi, these bags are made from recycled materials by marginalized communities of women. The Ethical Fashion Program supports the work of over 7000 women who live in conditions of extreme poverty but who have a strong desire to improve their lives.

Also for S/S11 Westwood has designed a stunning heart necklace for the charity Reprieve - who use the law to enforce the human rights of prisoners, from death row to Guantanamo Bay, they provide frontline investigation and legal representation to prisoners held outside the rule of law around the world. 

This week at London Fashion Week is no exception; Westwood has teamed up with Red Nose Day to design a range of 100 per cent Fairtrade organic cotton charity t-shirts to raise money. The t-shirts feature classic prints with bright red noses and are now available at TK Maxx from £9.99. Whilst not all her garments are organic/fairtrade, Westwood is certainly a fiesty woman who stands up for what she believes in and ensures her collections do the same. Bravo Dame Viv!!

Facts: Vivienne Westwood is a legend! 2011 Westwood Red nose organic cotton T-shirts £9.99
Learn more about International Trade Centre's Ethical Fashion Program here
Buy a Westwood Red Nose Tee here 
Buy a Westwood Eco tote or Reprieve necklace here

Monsoon launches L.O.V.E collection at LFW!

by Naomi

Monsoon has just launched a new ethical and sustainable collection, called L.O.V.E at London Fashion Week! The sponsors of LFW's eco/ethical exhibition, Esthetica, Monsoon are already kind of up there on their ethical policy and now they have a dedicated collection!

Featuring recycled materials, Indian crafts and organic fabrics the first collection is boho-tastic, here is a little snippet:





Pradesh Dress, organic cotton, traditional hand-crafted woodblock print, £190. Delhi Top, organic cotton, hand-sewn mother of pearl bib, £150.

These floaty numbers have got me fantasising about summer holidays spent on the beach and those lovely warm evenings spent in the pub!

See the rest of the collection here.

Men listen up.. we've got your Valentine sorted!!

By Lorna

Stuck for gift ideas for the Eco Goddess in your life!? We've got a few ideas to help you out...

Your EcoGoddess will LOVE LOVE LOVE these super cute vegan flats! They were designed exclusively for Melissa by Vivienne Westwood and with the studded heart detail you are bound to win a kiss!

Put your heart on the line for £11 with Manumit's Gold brass fair trade made heart pendant with jade green glass beads on a delicate chain.

If your girl is pretty in pink try impressing her with your fashion savee and get her a cute Annie Greenabelle heart print organic cotton dress/skirt/top. Plus there is 20% off all heart print items until valentines days! Just enter the code LOVEANNIE at the checkout. Have a LOVE-ly day!!! x

Facts:

Melissa & Vivienne Westwood Zen Girl Heart Flats £70 from Coggles 

Manumit heart necklace £11 from Fashion Conscious
Organic cotton heart print items £20 - £61 from Annie Greenabelle

Eco snow bunnies.. your ski wardrobe wrapped up!!

By Lorna

If you're off to the slopes any times soon, we've got you covered... head to toe!

The more I researched this post, the more I found that Patagonia are leaps and bounds ahead of the game with Eco Ski/ Snowboard wear! This 'Snowbelle' ski jacket is super cool and is insulated with Thermogreen® polyester (90% recycled) that stays warm even when wet... 

It features everything I would look for in a snowboarding jacket -waterproof/breathable, removable hood that accommodates a helmet, articulated sleeves with pit zips for venting heat, a fleece neck gasket, chamois-lined collar for spindrift, and an adjustable powder skirt- PERFECT! 

Having spent enough time sitting on ski lifts (getting cold) I can highly recommend getting a decent base layer sorted. You can't get much better that these- Patagonia Capilene Bottoms made from Polartec 65% recycled polyester knit and Capilene Midweight Crew -brushed for warmth, softness and compressibility.... all very impressive!

All slope loving girls know that support is key! Check out this High Impact Bra (also by Patagonia) made from lightweight highly breathable recycled polyester.

Pants for Poverty are an ace choice for ski pants especially as £1 per pair sold online is donated to a new child labour free programme in India.

Finally, after a hard day on the slopes, bathe your aching muscles with Jack Black's Scrub & muscle Soak. This Eucalyptus-infused scrub gently warms as you rub, to loosen knots. Arnica and Sea & Epsom Salts relive tension and soothe tired muscles and get you ready for apres ski.... Enjoy the slopes!!! 

Facts:

Patagonia - 'Snowbelle' ski jacket £230, High Impact Bra, Patagonia Capilene® 3 Midweight Bottoms £42, Women's Capilene® 3 Midweight Bottoms £42.

Pants to Poverty - Made from beautiful Fairtrade and Organic cotton with 3% lycra to give stretch and keep shape. £7-£15.

Jack Black's Scrub & Muscle Soak– Healing botanicals, vitamins and certified organic ingredients with no parabens, sulfates, fragrance or colorants. All products are cruelty-free, vegan and dermatologist-tested. £28.

H&M to launch new eco collection!

by Naomi

Just a very quick one to report the super-exciting news that H&M is set to launch a long-term sustainable range. Yippee!

It will be called Conscious Collection (a follow-up to the Garden Collection of last year which Lorna and I loved) and will include materials such as Tencel, recycled polyester and organic cotton. The womenswear range will be romantic, with blouses and tunics, and oodles of Broderie Anglaise and frills, whilst the menswear will feature a preppy look with blazers and collarless shirts. 

Judging by the pics (all courtesy of H&M), it is not a range for those clumsy with the red wine - but then white clothes are just a good excuse to stick to Champagne!

Conscious Collection will be up for grabs in EVERY H&M store from April 14.

H&M head of design Ann-Sofie Johansson commented on the launch:

“It’s not just about organic cotton any more, the possibilities for creating a complete fashion statement with eco smarter materials are huge now. By designing recurring Conscious Collections we have the opportunity to show in a variety of ways what’s possible using more sustainable fabrics.”

Looks and sounds HOT. I am excited. And that rarely happens on a Thursday.

 Facts: H&M, new sustainable range 2011, Conscious Collection: Tencel, organic cotton, recycled polyester.